Automatic safety device for steam boilers or generators



s. H. LOPEZ Feb. 4, 1930.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY DEVICE FOR STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS Filed July 2, '1927 2 Sheets-Sheet INIVENTOR.

' 5aZvczcioFiler/1e]mliurw' ATTORNEY. v

5. H. LOPEZ.

Feb. 4, 1930.

AUTOMATIC S AFETY DEVICE FOR STEAM BOILERS OR GENERATORS Filed July 2. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet iuiiunlilan nt 8 d I! 55::

opez,

- INVENTOR. salzgadoffler'l' jluz .lI/"llll villi; villi!"lillllflfllll'!flllll4 Wm I all w m m T A Patented Feb. 4;;1930

: wane 'sanvanosfirnnansen tor-E2, or ranxroo, MEXICO" Ao'roivrarro sa i ary DEVICEEOR s'rnAM Borriaas 0's ennnna'rons Application area ul 2,, 1927, Serial ndaeaiea'ane in Mexico February 9, 1927.

This invention relates to an automatic 'safetydevlce .forsteam boilers or generators, and has for its ob ect to prov1de, 1n a: manner as hereinafter set forth, adevic'e of such class for preventing to a minimum the bursting-of the boilers or generators, as well as thewarping or mis-shaping of rthe walls of the com- 'bustion chambers th e1 eof,i whereby-costs of "maintenance are materially reduced. i A further obj ectofthe invention is to pron vide,,in';a manner as hereinafterv set forth, a safety device for steambollers or generators acting to automatically extinguish a firein the combustion chamber when'the water is clearof the top wall or crown sheet of. such chamber and when the temperature 'of' said top wall reaches 350" G.,'further'for automatically indicating or signalling when the said top wall of the combustion chamber reaches a temperature of 350 (1, andfurther for automatically extinguishing the fire in the combustion chamber 7 simultaneously with the automatic indicating or-signalling when theitop wall or crown sheet of the combustion chamber reaches a temperature. of

350 C., under suchcondltlons reduclng to a minimum the bursting of the boilers or gen erators, as well'as the warping or mls-shaping of the walls of the combust on chambers thereof, and therefore reduce accidents to a minimum and decrease-the cost of maintenance o 5* 7';

. A further object of .the invention is to provide, in a' manneras hereinafter set forth; a safety devicefor use inconnection with steam boilers or generators and includingfusible' plugs seatingflin openings and fusing at a 1 temperature whicl 1 is. not' injurious to the walls of a" combustion chamber, and with said v a plugsfand the openings in which they are; seated, protected from crustation and under such conditions a satisfactory operation of the devicerwill be ha'd when desired, which "otherwise wouldnot berf M p I V t Further-objects ofthe invention areto provide, inamanner as hereinafter set forth, a safetvdevice for the purpose hereinbefore ref red to, which simple-inns construction and. arrangement,':strong,durable, thoroughly efiicient in its use, automatic in its characters denote. corresponding action} readily installed with respect toasteamboi'ler or generator, and comparatively inexpensive to set up. j j

\Vith t the foregoing and other objects "in; View: the invention consists of .the novel con;

1 struction,"combination andarrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in; the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment ofthe invention, but it isto beu nderstoodthat changes, variations and modifications V the scope,

can be resorted to which fall within f the claims hereunto appended. a V In the draw ngs wherein hkejreference throughout the several views: Figure l "is longitudinal of a steam boiler orgenerator showing the;

device in accordance withthis invention and with the boiler or generator operated from liquid fuel. 1

sectional-view adaptation therewith of an automatic safety I FigureZ is afragmentary View in, verti-.

Calseetion' illustrating. a cutoff for the fuel for the burner. v I r V Figure 3 isa section on line 3- -3 Figured.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of a steam boiler or generatorshowing the adaptation,

for the cutoff and with saidfelement shown in vertical section. p t F 1g. 5 1s a sectional'plan of thecutoff, taken on the line 5'5 Figurelkj Figure 6 fragment'ary view sectional plan 'illustrat ngvthe anchoring end ofthef pressure'controlling element for the 'cutoffi a Y The adaptation; of anautomatic safety as; v ce, 1n accordancewith thlsinvention i or gaseous fuel the device connects I with a the fuel supply l ne. for closing 1t, asshown, but v hen employed for steam boilers'or generators burning solid fuels the device is i-oper' at velyarranged with respect to the airentherewith of a pressure vcontrolling;element lire will be extinguished.

in the combustion chamber will become extinguished.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 1 indicates the combustion'chamber of a steam boiler or generator and 2 the top wall or crown sheet of said chamber 1. Projecting from one end of the combustion chamber 1, that is its inner end, are the calefaction tubes 3. A refractorylining is indicated at 1, an air intake for combustion at 5, a supporting plate 6 for the lining 4;, a water chamber 7 which extends around the top, sides and ends of the combustion chamber 1, an entrance 8 to the chamber 1, a door frame 9, a door 10 which controls the entrance or opening 8, the outer casing, shell or wall 11 of the boiler or generator and which in connection with the walls of the combustion chamber 1 provides the water space 7. The upper part of the casing or outer wall 11 in connection with a dome, not shown, provides a storage space 12- for the generated steam. A burner 14 extending inwardly from a fuel supply line 15 is arranged with'an opening 13.

valved steam supply line is indicated at 1-5 and which leads from'the storage space 12 to the atomizer of the burner 14:. The steam supply line 15 is provided with a manually operated cutoff or valve 16. The fuel supply line 15 is provided with a manually operatedcutott- 17. A liquid or gaseous fuel reservoir or container 18' opens into-the line 15; The foregoing elements are of known construction and are illustrated by way of example to show the adaptation with a steam boiler or generator of a safety device in accordance with this invention and for the purpose referred to.

A safety device inaccordance with this invention comprises a pressure-actuated operating mechanism for a closure means for a.

fuel supply line or for an air supply intake for combustion, a pressure conducting line leading from the storage space 12 tosaid mechanism, a plurality of pressure controlling elements connected'to and normally closed to the pressure conducting line and opening into said storage space -12, andv two indicators or signalling elements normally closed to: and for conducting pressure, respectively, one to the outside of the boiler, in. connect-ion with a whistle to give alarm, and the other to the chamber'l. The indicating or signalling element is opento the storage-space1-2. As illustrated, by way of example, the pressure actuated operating mechanism is connected to a rotatable closure valve 18 of the tapered plugtype provided with a' one-way port 19. The valve 18 is shiftably mounted in a casing 20 interposed in the fuel supply line 15, below the manually operated'cutofi', 17; The valve 18 includes at its larger end a stem 21-,

to which is connected a crank arm 22, having its free end provided with a right angularly disposed cylindrical extension 23, formed with a reduced terminal 24. I

The pressure actuated operating mechanism for the closing means comprises a cylinder 2% which is open at its upper end and connected. withthe fuel supply line 15 by integral superposed coupling extensions 26. The cylinder 24 is open at its top, as indicated at 27, and closed at its bottom as indicated at 28. Eccentrically of the bottom 28 is formed an opening 29 having a threaded Wall for a purpose to be hereinafter referred i to. Mounted on the upper end of the cylinder 24 is a stop member 30 in the form of a leather washer and. which has its inner diameter materially less than the inner diameter of the cylinder 2% whereby the washerwill project partly across the open upper end of said cylinder. Mounted on thestop member 30 isa metallicannulus 31 of the same outer and inner diameter with respect to the member 30. The member 30" and annulus 31 are secured to the'upper' end oi the cylinder by the'holdfast devices 32.- The annulus 81 has itsin-ner and outer edges registerlng-wlth the edges of the member 30; 7

Operatingwithin the cylinder 24 is a-cupshapedpiston 33 which has its upper movement arrested by the member 30. Pivotally connected, at its lower end, as at 3 1, within distance from the upper end-ofthe piston-rod 35 and carries retaining means,asindicated at 37 for connecting the extension 23t0 the rod. 35; above the cylinder 24 and through the annulus 31 when the piston is seated onthe bottom 28-01- the cylinder 24-. i The piston 33 has its bottom 38 of convex-concavo cross section whereby when it'is in engagement with the bottom 28 of the cylinder 24 it w-ill projectupwardly therefrom, noteFigure 2. The piston 33 carries packing rings 39.-

As each of the pressure controlling elements for the closure means operating mechanismis of the same construction, but one will be described, as the description of one will apply to the other. Each of saidelei ments is coupled with a top-wall2 ofthe combustion chamberl and-the topwall- 4G of the stora 'e space 12; Each of said elements, utilized separately of the mechanism for the automatic closure, is also-usedasan-indicating orsignalling element andcomprisesa base member in the form of an annularcasting consisting of anupper portion 11', anilitern'iediate portion l2- and alower portion 43. The upperportmn-ll isof slightlyless outer The rod 35-is of a len th toproject i :diameter than the intermediate portion 42 r and the lower portion 43 is of slightly greater outer diameterthan the intermediate portion 42 to provide a shoulder '44. 'The'int-ermediate portion'42 is peripherally threaded as at;45. The upper portion 41' is formed withapair of spaced openings 46, 47 andeach of which has the Walls thereof threaded. The intermee diate portion 42 is providedwith a'verticallydisposed opening 48 registering with" the opening 46 and of less diameter than the diameter of the latter.'-

. The opening 48' is ofuniform diameter throughout. The intermediate portion 42 is furthermore provided with an opening 49 which registers with the opening 47=but is ofless diameter than the diameter of the lat ter. .The opening 49 gradually decreases in ldiameter from its upper towitslower end whereby the wallthereof will be tapered. The bottom portion .43 is of greater height than the top or intermediateportions 41, 42,

respectively, and is hollow to provide, an an-- nular chamber having therein a web, 50 which depends from the intermediate portion 42 and is ofles's height than the height. of the lower portion 43. The web 50 iscylindrical' T in contour and disposed centrally'of the chamber 51 v formed by the lower portion 43. The inner face of the lower --portion"43 is integrally threaded as at 52 and; engaging therewith isa closure 53, formed with a socket I 54 for thereception of the lower end of the p 6 member when coupled or connected to the. A Wall2 extends above and depends below the.

web50. The lower part of the intermediate portion 421s cut away to form a continua- .tion of the chamber 51 as indicated at '55.

Mounted in the opening 49 is--a tapered fusible plug 56 which normally closes the I i chamber 51 to the opening 47 The top wallan o )ening 57 having a threaded wall which 2 of the combustion chamber-i is formed with is engaged by the threaded intermediate portion 42 for the purpose of coupling the base i nember to said wall2. Then the base mem- L her of the pressure element iscoupledor con- I nected to the wall 2, the shoulder 44 abuts against thelower-face thereof, -The base same. The height of the intermediate por-, tion 42 is thesame asthe thickness of the top wall;2: of the combustionl chamber 1. The plug 56 is disposed in horizontal alignment with respect to said top wall 2. .Threadedly engaging with thewall' of the opening 47 is a steam intake tube 58 having its upper end i open, as at 59 and its lower end normally closed to the chamber 51, by the'fusible plug ameter than the portion 68.

enter the 7 tube Threadedly engagingatits lower end with 58 from the upper/ end the opening 46 "and of a length to'extend through the wall 40 is a tube 62'f0r conducting steam fora purpose to be presently referred to. Thewall 40' is formed with an opening having the wall thereof stepped an'd such opening is indicated at'63. The tube. 62' extends through the opening 63 and through a plug 64, which has threaded engagement with the wall of the opening 63 and bears'against'l a packing 65 to provide a steam tight joint betweenthe tube 62and wall 40. The tube 62 V is permanently in 'communicationwith the opening 48 andchamber 51. As illustrated two pressure controlling elements are emw ployedin the device, but it is tobe understood that this number can be increased or 'dimin- The top wall f the combustion ished.

chamber 1 will be provided with asfmany. s

openings 57 as correspond to the number of pressure controlling elements employed and this statement also applies to the top of the storage space 12. The protecting cap is spaced and supported by any suitable means carried thereby so as to'maintain it at the-desired distancewith'respect to the upper terminal portion of the tube :58. Y The simple indicating or signalling element ispreferably positionedbetween the two pressure controlling elements and it consists of a tubular member formed ofjan upper portion 66, an intermediate portion 67 and a lower- 'POIlJljOIl 68. The portion 66 is of less diameter than the portion 67 and the latter is of lessdi- The intermed ate portion 67 isperipherally threaded and engages with-*the'threaded wall of an opening 68 formed in thetop 'wall 2 ofithe com-l bustion chamber 1. The intermediate portion 67'is of a height corresponding to'thethicl'n'" I ness ofthe wall '2. Theportion 66 projects above thewall'2 and the portion 68 depends therefrom. The inner face of the portion 66 -18 threadedasat 69an'd engaging'therewith is I the lower end of an upstanding 'steam con ductingpipe70'of: a length to terminate ald- V jacent to the wall 40. Surrounding the upper portion of the tubeor pipe 7 0, as well as being spaced therefrom is a protecting cap7 1 and the space between the latter and'thetube 70., which is indicated at 72 permits of-a supply-of steam to enter the opened upperlend 73 ;of thetube 70. The inner face of the :interme diate portion 67 gradually decreases in diame ter from its upper to its. lower en'dto provide 7 a tapering'wall 74 and seated agains'tsaid wall throughout; is a fusibleplug-75: The

plug 75 is arranged in'horizontal alignment J with respect to the top wall 2. Theinner face 7 ofthelower portion 68, gradually increases in diameter fI'OHIltS upper to its lower eildas indicated at 76. The tube'70 is provided for conducting steam from'the storage spaced 2 closed to the combustion chamber 1 by the The protecting cap '71 is.

fusible plug 75. spaced and supported by any suitable means carried thereby so as tozmaintain it at the desired distance with respect to the upper terminal portion of the tube 70.

T7 and has one of the steam conducting tubes (32,. coupled therewith by a T-coupling 78 and such tube opens into the line 7 7 for the purpose of supplying steam thereto. The other conducting tube 62' is connected to the upper end ofthe' line'- 77 by anelbow coupling 79- and said other tube- 62 communicates with the line 77 for'the-purpose of supplying steam thereto. pressure conducting line opens into the piston, chamber 80 formedby the cylinder 24 and with reference to-Figure 2 the line 77 has itslower end threadedly engaging with the wall efthe opening 29 formed in the bottc-m 28 of the cylinder 24. Steam pressureis supplied into the space formed between the bottom 38 of the piston33 and the bottom 28 of the cylinder 24; V 7

Withreference to Figure 2, the fuel supply line 15 includes a section 81 having part thereof providing the valve casing'or housing 20: Each end of the section 81 is enlarged as at 82', 8-3 and i'nteriorly threaded for coupling therewith adjacent pipe sections of the line The inner end of the casing 20 is closed bya-plate 85" and through which eX- te'nds the reduced shank 84 extending from the inner end of the valve 18. Carried by the shank 84is-aretaini1rg means 86 for arresting the outward shift of theva'lvei 18"; The valve 18" projects from the outer end of the casing 2.0 and isnormally positioned in spaced relation with respect toithe inner fa'ceof the plate 181 The casing or housing 20 is arranged in proximity to'the upper end of the section 81 and the cylinder-24,. which is formed integral with thecoupling extensions 26, and is positioned a substantial distance below the casing 20.. The coupling, extensions 2'6 are integral with the section 81. V

The fusible plugs- 56 and 75 are protected from incrustation by the arrangement of the tubes 58 and 70' with respect to the protecting caps-60,171.. Thewal'l. of the opening 48, as well as the wall of the chamber 51 is also? protected from incrustation. The fusible, plugs are mounted in the top wall 2 of thecombusti'on chamber. In otherwo'rd's the fusible plugs are in direct Contact with the eale'factiorr parts and by this arrangement the temperature of the fuse plugs will be maintained always uniform to that of the calefaction parts; VVhe'n the fuse plugs are melted orfused and their closure function impaired owingz to the manner of'se tting up the pressure controlling and. indicating ele- In connection with the manner inwhich the safety device operates it will be stated that when the boiler or steam generator is working normally, the calefaction parts, among themthe wall 2, are covered by water, whereby thecalefaction parts will be main- 7 tained at a temperature equalto that of the The pressure conducting line is indicated at water which is in contact with them; but when said calefaction parts, that is the top wall 2 of the combustion chamber is clear of water, then the temperature thereof isincreased. The plugs 56 and 75 are soldered in position. .Vhen the temperature of the top wall 2' is increased, it is transmitted to the fusible plugs. When the temperatures of the top wall 2 and fusible plugs reach 350 C., the plugs melt whereby communication is established between the tubes 58 and 62 and be tween the tube'i'O and the combustion chamher 1, and under such conditions a steam currentis supplied to the pressure conducting line 77 and a steam current is'supplied to the combustion chamber 1. The steam current travelling through the line 77 will be passed to the chamber 80, elevating the piston 33 and actuating the closing means for the'pip'e line 15 or an air intake closing means. The piston 33 when inits lowered position acts to maintain the valve 18"open and when the piston 33 is acted upon by steam pressure it is elevated and whereby the valve l8i's closed. The cutting off of the fuel supply will pro vide for the extinguishing of the fire inthe combusti'on'chamber' avoiding thereby the serious risk that the boilers or steam genera'tors will burst, and also prevent the deformation of the walls of the combustionchamber. The steam currents thatcome out so much as to go llltO the combustion chamher as well as'to the atmosphere, will indicate, respectively, that there is an improper temperaturein the calefaction parts.

t is thought the many advantages of a safe ty device, in accordance with this invention and for the purpose set forth, can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed. i

hat I claim is: V

1. In an automatic safety device for asteam generator of that type having a combined water and steam space over thecro wn sheet of the combustion chamber, the combination of a chambered base member adapted to be seated in and connected directly to" the crown sheet, a steam conducting tube permanently opening into the chamber of thebase' member and leading therefrom-through said space for supplying steam to a steam pressure actuated shut off mechanism-, a steam intake tube 'spective ends opening into said space and t wholly within said spaceand having'its rechamber of said base member, and a fusible plug within the base member, normally clos ing said intake tube to the chamber in said base member and fusing when the crown sheet reaches a temperature to melt the plug where- V by communication is established between the lntake tube and the chamber of said base member, said plug having its upper surface in horizontal alignment with the upper surface of said crown sheet.

2. In an automatic safety device for a steam generator of that type having a combined water and steam space over the crown sheet of the combustion chamber, the'combination of a base member adapted to be seated in and connected to the crown sheet and having the lower portion thereof formed" with a chamber, said base memberfurther being formed with a pair of spaced steam passages extending through theupper portion thereof to the chamber in said base member, a

'7 steam conducting tube extending into one of said passages, communicating permanently with the chamber in the base member and leading therefrom through said space for supplying steam to a steam pressure actuated shut off mechanism, a steam intake tube wholly within said space and having its respective ends in communication with the other of said passages and said space, and a fusible plugin and normally closing said last" mentioned passageto. the chamber in the base member and fusing when the crown sheet reaches a temperature to melt the plug whereby communication is established between the intake'tube and the chamber of said base memher, said plug having its'upper surface in horizontal alignment with the upper surface of said crown sheet and of less length than the passage in which it is associated.

3. In an automatic safety device for steam generators of'that type" having a combined water and steam space over the crown sheet 7 of thecombustion chamber, the combination of a base member adapted to be connected to said crown sheet and'of a length toproject 7 above and depend below said sheet, said member formed with a chamber and an upper'and an intermediate pair fof'fopenings, the intermediate openings communicating at their lower ends with sa1d chamber through the top of the latter and at their upper ends with said upper openings, a steam intake pipe leading from said space to one of the upper openings, a steam discharge pipe leading from the other of said upper openings, a fusible plug mounted in one of said intermediate openings for normally closing the intake pipe to said chamber and thebase member and fusing when the crown sheet reaches a temperature to melt the plug whereby communica- 7 tion is'established between the intake tube and the chamber of said base member to' provide for the passage of steam to said discharge pipe, said plug having its upper end flush with the upper face of the crown sheet, and

the passage ofsteam from said space through said tube, said means including a base member adapted to be connected to'said crown sheet and of a length to project above and depend below said sheet, said base member provided with a steam outlet, an opening intermediate its ends and communicating with said outlet and an upper opening registering with the intermediate opening, said tube having its other end secured in said upper'opening,*a

fusible plug mounted in said intermediate opening and normally closing it to said outlet and fusing when the crown sheet reaches a temperature to melt the plug whereby communication is'established between the intake tube and said outlet to provide for the dis charge of steam from said space, and a protecting cap adapted to be secured in said space and enclosing and spaced from the intake end of said tube. V Y r In testimonywhereof, I aifix my signature hereto. p V V SALVADOR HERREJON LOPEZ. 

